Monthly Monday Mission Update:
Learning, Connection and Opportunity Beyond the School Bell
For millions of children across America, the end of the school day doesn't necessarily mean the start of something positive.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, an estimated 22.6 million children are alone and unsupervised after school. For working families, those hours can be especially challenging. But the need for out-of-school time programming goes well beyond having a safe place for children to spend their afternoons.
It's about what happens during those hours, and the people who help shape them.
At the Y, we believe learning, growth and opportunity shouldn't stop when the school bell rings.
That's why our after school time programs across 55 schools in the region are designed to do more than keep kids busy. They provide academic support, encourage creativity, build leadership skills and, perhaps most importantly, connect young people with caring adults who believe in their potential.
People like Jessica Webster.
Jessica joined the Y in 2024 and now serves as a Site Director at Lillie May Carroll School, one of our 28 Community Schools in Baltimore City.
Working alongside school leaders, families and community partners, Jessica helps students access everything from healthy food and school supplies to academic support and enrichment opportunities. Through the Y's free Out-of-School Time (OST) program, students receive help with reading, writing and math while exploring activities like art, dance, sports and field trips.
But ask Jessica what matters most about her work, and she'll tell you it's the relationships.
"A lot of the young people I see every day don't have a positive adult to look up to," Jessica shares.
For many of the children she serves, Jessica has become exactly that.
She recalls an activity where students were asked to make cards for someone important in their lives. To her surprise, she received several. One student wrote:
"You mean so much to me and have made my life so much better this year. You are so important to me... You have been the only person I could run to when I need something."
It's a simple message, but one that speaks volumes about the impact a caring adult can have on a young person's life.
And Jessica is one of many Y associates making that kind of difference across Central Maryland.
Today, 946 young people participate in our 15 grant-funded after school programming across 15 sites in Baltimore City while another 1,686 children are enrolled in our 40 before and after school enrichment programs in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll and Harford Counties. Our mentoring programs reach an additional 400 young people, connecting them with positive role models who help build confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging.
For older youth, that support continues through programs like Youth & Government, which engaged 250 teens across 17 delegations during the 2025–2026 school year, and Leaders Club, which brings together 122 young people across seven Y Family Centers to develop leadership skills, build friendships and make a difference in their communities.
Each program looks a bit different programmatically, but they all share a common goal: helping young people discover who they are, what they're capable of and where they belong.
Earlier this month, we celebrated Lights On Afterschool with events at schools and Y Family Centers throughout our region. The national celebration shines a light on the importance of afterschool programs and the critical role they play in supporting children, families and communities.
For the Y, it's also a reminder of why this work matters.
When a child has a safe place to go after school, a parent has greater peace of mind. When a student receives extra academic support, new opportunities become possible. And when a young person finds someone like Jessica who listens, encourages and believes in them, the impact can last far beyond the school years.
That's the power of out-of-school time programming. And it's why the Y is committed to ensuring more young people have access to these experiences.
Because the opportunity to impact a young person's life extends far beyond the early afternoon school bell.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO